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Austin Barnes
Austin Barnes
from Wikipedia

Austin Scott Barnes (born December 28, 1989) is an American professional baseball catcher in the New York Mets organization. He has previously played in Major League Baseball (MLB) for the Los Angeles Dodgers. He played college baseball for the Arizona State Sun Devils. Barnes was selected by the Florida Marlins in the eighth round of the 2011 MLB draft. He made his MLB debut with the Dodgers in 2015 and helped the team win the 2020 and 2024 World Series. He has also played for the Mexico national baseball team.

Key Information

Early life

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Barnes was born on December 28, 1989, in Riverside, California, the oldest of four children born to Dennis and Stephanie Barnes. Although his mother is Mexican-American, he was raised speaking only English.[1] His maternal uncle, Mike Gallego, played in Major League Baseball (MLB) for the Oakland Athletics. He began playing baseball at a young age. As a shortstop in Little League Baseball, Barnes' nickname was "Hoover", given for his ability to field ground balls.[2]

He attended Riverside Polytechnic High School, playing on the same baseball team as future Houston Astros outfielder Jake Marisnick.[3] He received four varsity letters from Riverside Poly, and served as team captain his senior year. As a junior in 2007, Barnes had a batting average of .450, which he improved to .478 as a senior. Outside of his high school team, Barnes played on travel teams and in a summer league, which he helped take to the American Amateur Baseball Congress (AABC) Don Mattingly Championship in 2017.[2]

College career

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After graduating from Riverside Poly, Barnes attended Arizona State University to play college baseball. He largely did not play during his freshman season.[4] He appeared in 20 games as a catcher and second baseman, with one start as a designated hitter. In only 17 at bats, Barnes totaled seven hits for a .412 average.[5]

Things began to change for Barnes as a sophomore. After catchers Xorge Carrillo and Andrew Pollak both suffered injuries during Barnes' sophomore season, he was called behind the plate. Barnes adapted to the new position quickly, with 19 of the first 24 baserunners he faced caught stealing.[6] He also improved his batting, finishing the season with a .272 average.[7] He started in 48 games, 43 of which were behind the plate, and registered a .985 fielding percentage in his first season as a full-time catcher.[5]

In 2010, he played summer league baseball for the St. Cloud River Bats of the Northwoods League.[8]

Barnes was given an opportunity to return to the infield for his junior season, but he elected to remain the team's catcher.[7] His first home run of the season came on March 27, 2011, in the seventh inning of an 8-1 victory over Arizona.[9] As the team's starting catcher, Barnes played in 43 games in 2011, starting in 41, and boasted a .994 fielding percentage and .320 batting average, with 27 runs and 15 runs batted in (RBIs). He was also named to the All-Pac-10 First Team upon the conclusion of the season.[5]

Professional career

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Miami Marlins

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The Miami Marlins drafted Barnes in the ninth round of the 2011 MLB draft.[2] He made his professional debut that season with the Low-A Jamestown Jammers of the New York–Penn League, establishing himself early on as both a passionate catcher and a strong batter.[10]

From 2012 to 2014, Barnes played for the Single-A Greensboro Grasshoppers, High-A Jupiter Hammerheads, and Double-A Jacksonville Suns.[11] He split time between catcher and second base.[12]

Los Angeles Dodgers

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Barnes with the Oklahoma City Dodgers at the 2015 Triple-A All-Star Game

On December 10, 2014, Barnes was traded to the Los Angeles Dodgers, along with Chris Hatcher, Andrew Heaney, and Enrique Hernández, in exchange for Dan Haren, Dee Gordon, Miguel Rojas and cash.[13] He was assigned to the Triple-A Oklahoma City Dodgers.[14] On May 23, 2015, he was called up to the Major Leagues for the first time when Yasmani Grandal went on the 7-day disabled list with a concussion.[15]

Barnes made his MLB debut as the starting catcher for the Dodgers on May 24, 2015, originally wearing number 65.[16] He had one hit in three at-bats in his debut, with his first MLB hit being a single to center field off of Dale Thayer of the San Diego Padres.[17] He returned to Oklahoma City after his short time on the Dodgers roster and was named as a starter on the Pacific Coast League team for the mid-season Triple-A All-Star game.[18] He was also named to the post-season PCL all-star team[19] and Baseball America's Triple-A All-Star team.[20] He rejoined the Dodgers in September.[21] He played in 20 games for the Dodgers with six hits in 29 at-bats (.207).[22] In 81 games for the Oklahoma City team, he hit .315 with nine homers and 42 RBI.[11]

Barnes appeared in 21 games for the Dodgers in 2016, hitting .156,[22] and 85 games for Oklahoma City, hitting .295. He changed his number from 65 to 28.[11] He also appeared in two games in the 2016 National League Division Series against the Washington Nationals, with one pinch hit appearance and one pinch run appearance.[23]

Barnes with the Los Angeles Dodgers in 2015

Barnes made the Opening Day roster as the backup catcher in 2017.[24] On June 30, 2017, he recorded his first multi-homer game of his career (his first career grand slam and a three-run home run) and recorded a career-high seven RBIs against the San Diego Padres.[25] He gradually saw more playing time, moving into a platoon role with Grandal for most of the season before taking over as the starter in the playoffs.[26] During the regular season, he had a .289 batting average with eight home runs and 38 RBI in 102 games.[22] In the 2017 NLDS Barnes had four hits in eight at-bats with a home run and a double in the Dodgers' three-game sweep of the Arizona Diamondbacks.[22] In the 2017 NLCS against the Chicago Cubs, he had two hits in 15 at-bats, and in the 2017 World Series against the Houston Astros, he had four hits in 23 at-bats.[22]

In 2018, Barnes started spring training battling elbow discomfort.[27] He ended up being the backup to Yasmani Grandal, taking over the catching role more in the postseason when Grandal allowed two passed balls and made two errors in game 1 of the NLCS and another passed ball in game 3, resulting in Dodgers fans booing him and begging for Barnes to catch.[22] Barnes hit .205/.329/.290 in 100 games with 4 home runs, 41 hits, and 14 RBI.[28] An elite framer, he excelled defensively.[22] He ranked third in the MLB for framing and defensive statistics, had a .993 fielding percentage, and allowed only one passed ball.[29] In the 2018 NLCS against the Milwaukee Brewers, Barnes had two hits in 18 at-bats.[22] In the 2018 World Series against the Boston Red Sox, he was hitless in eleven at-bats.[30]

In 2019, Barnes was named the Opening Day starting catcher after Grandal signed with the Milwaukee Brewers. However, he got off to a slow start and on July 26 he was sent down to Oklahoma City to make room for rookie catcher Will Smith to take over the everyday catching duties. Barnes was batting .196 prior to being sent down.[31] He appeared in only 75 games in the majors in 2019, hitting .203/.293/.340 with five home runs and 25 RBIs,[22] while he hit .264 in 23 games in the minor leagues.[11] Barnes signed a one-year, $1.1 million contract with the Dodgers after the season, avoiding arbitration.[32]

During the pandemic-shortened 2020 season, Barnes appeared in 29 games for the Dodgers, hitting .244/.353/.314 with one homer and nine RBIs.[22] He had two hits in three at-bats in the Wild Card Series, two hits in two at-bats in the NLDS and two hits in seven at-bats in the NLCS.[22] In the 2020 World Series against the Tampa Bay Rays, he had two hits in 13 at-bats.[22] In Game 3, he drove in a run with a safety squeeze and also hit a home run, becoming only the second player to do both of those things in the same World Series game, joining Héctor López in 1961.[33] The Dodgers won the World Series in six games with Barnes catching the final out with Julio Urias closing the game.

On February 15, 2021, Barnes signed a new two-year, $4.3 million contract with the Dodgers to avoid salary arbitration.[34] He again was the back-up catcher behind Will Smith, appearing in 77 games and hitting .215 with six homers and 23 RBI.[22] He had three appearances, all as a pinch hitter, in the playoffs, striking out in two of the three at-bats.[22]

On July 3, 2022, Barnes and the Dodgers signed a two-year contract extension worth $7 million.[35][36] In 62 games in 2022, he hit .212 with eight homers and 26 RBIs.[22] In 2023, he played in 59 games, with a .180 batting average.[22] In 2024, he played in 54 games with a .264 average.[22] While Barnes was active for the entire postseason in 2024, he only made one appearance, as a defensive replacement in the NLCS, as the Dodgers won the 2024 World Series title. It was the first time since 2019 that he did not have an at-bat in the postseason.[22] After the season, the Dodgers picked up his $3.25 million contract option for the 2025 season.[37]

Barnes appeared in 13 games for the Dodgers in 2025, batting .214/.233/.286 with two RBI.[22] He was designated for assignment by the team on May 14[38][39] and released on May 20.[40]

San Francisco Giants

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On June 29, 2025, Barnes signed a minor league contract with the San Francisco Giants.[41] In 13 appearances split between the rookie-level Arizona Complex League Giants and Triple-A Sacramento River Cats, he went 8-for-39 (.205) with two RBI. Barnes was released by the Giants organization on August 1.[42]

New York Mets

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On January 29, 2026, Barnes signed a minor league contract with the New York Mets.[43]

Personal life

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Barnes is the nephew of former MLB infielder Mike Gallego.[44] His younger brother, Griffin, played catcher for Grand Canyon University and signed with the Los Angeles Angels.[45]

Barnes married Nicole Breanna Rappaport in 2018. The couple lives in Glendale, California,[46] a suburb of Los Angeles close to Dodger Stadium. They have one son.[47]

Although Barnes' childhood nickname was "Hoover", it is now "Barnsey". He also picked up the nickname "Sam" from Chase Utley.[46]

Barnes enjoys playing golf in his free time.[48] His favorite actor is Will Ferrell, his favorite movie is Old School, and his favorite TV show is Seinfeld.[46]

References

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Revisions and contributorsEdit on WikipediaRead on Wikipedia
from Grokipedia
Austin Barnes (born December 28, 1989) is an American former who played eleven seasons in (MLB) primarily as a for the from 2015 to 2025. Standing at 5 feet 9 inches and known for his defensive reliability, speed, and versatility—including occasional play at second base—Barnes contributed to two championships with the Dodgers in 2020 and 2024. He also represented the national team in the . After being released by the Giants in August 2025 following a brief stint, he became a . Born in , Barnes attended Riverside Poly High School, where he excelled as a and , batting .450 as a junior and .478 as a senior. He then played at for the Sun Devils, earning All-Pac-12 First Team honors in 2011 after hitting .320. That year, he was selected by the Florida Marlins (now ) in the ninth round, 283rd overall, of the 2011 MLB Draft. Barnes progressed through the Marlins' system before being traded to the Dodgers organization in December 2014 as part of a deal involving Dee Gordon and Miguel Rojas. Barnes made his MLB debut on May 24, 2015, against the Colorado Rockies, and spent his entire big-league career with the Dodgers, appearing in 612 games with a career .223 , 35 home runs, and 162 RBI. His standout season came in , when he hit .258 with eight home runs and stole six bases, earning praise for his contact skills and athleticism behind the plate. As a reliable reserve, Barnes provided steady and game-calling, tying for the fourth-most seasons as a Dodgers with 11 before his departure. In 2025, after the Dodgers exercised his $3.5 million club option in November 2024, he appeared in 13 games with a .214 average before being and released in May; he then signed a minor league contract with the Giants but was let go after struggling in Triple-A.

Early years

Early life

Austin Barnes was born on December 28, 1989, at St. Jude Medical Center in Fullerton, California. He is the son of Dennis Barnes, a loan agent, and Stephanie Barnes, a beautician and hairdresser. As the oldest of four children, Barnes grew up in a family with deep ties to baseball, influenced by his maternal uncle Mike Gallego, a former Major League infielder. Barnes' mother is Mexican-American, with her grandparents born in Mexico, providing him with cultural heritage that shaped his connection to Mexican baseball and later enabled his eligibility to represent Mexico internationally. Initially raised in Rancho Cucamonga, the family moved to Riverside, Southern California, when he was eight years old, immersing him in the local baseball culture from a young age. His parents encouraged his interest in the sport, fostering an environment where baseball became a central family activity, with Dennis and Stephanie attending Dodgers games together before his birth. Barnes began playing organized in Riverside Little League, starting as a known for his defensive reliability in fielding ground balls. He developed as a right-handed batter and thrower through these early experiences, honing fundamental skills in local youth leagues like Magnolia Little League. This foundational period in laid the groundwork for his progression into more structured play.

High school career

Austin Barnes attended in , graduating in 2008 after playing from 2005 to 2008. He earned four varsity letters in the sport and served as team captain during his senior year. Barnes garnered significant recognition for his performance, earning three-time all-county selection honors and two-time all-league accolades. In his senior season, he was named a first-team all-area honoree and to the All-Southern team, while batting .478 to lead the team to the league title. His standout play drew early interest from college programs.

Amateur career

College career

Austin Barnes enrolled at in 2009 and played three seasons for the team from 2009 to 2011 under head coach Pat Murphy in 2009 and Tim Esmay from 2010 to 2011. As a freshman in 2009, Barnes appeared in 20 games, batting .412 with no home runs and 2 RBIs. In his sophomore year of 2010, he appeared in 48 games and hit .272 with 1 home run, 24 RBIs, and 5 stolen bases, earning Pac-10 All-Conference honorable mention honors. During his junior season in 2011, Barnes hit .320 with 1 home run and 15 RBIs, and was named to the All-Pac-10 First Team while helping the Sun Devils reach the Austin Super Regional. Over his three seasons, he posted a .303 with 2 home runs and 41 RBIs, starting 85 games. Barnes decided to forgo his senior year and enter the 2011 MLB Draft after his junior season, as his stock rose due to his reputation as a strong defensive catcher with notable speed.

Professional career

Miami Marlins organization

Austin Barnes was selected by the Florida Marlins in the ninth round (283rd overall) of the 2011 Major League Baseball Draft out of Arizona State University, where his versatility as an infielder and solid contact hitting had drawn scouts' attention. He signed with the organization for a $95,000 bonus and was assigned to the Rookie-level Gulf Coast League Marlins, appearing in 32 games and batting .286 while primarily playing second base. In 2012, following the franchise's rebranding to the , Barnes advanced to the Single-A of the , where he enjoyed a breakout season, batting .318 with 10 home runs and 65 RBIs over 123 games and earning league honors as a . His performance highlighted his offensive potential and speed, as he stole 13 bases that year. Barnes continued his progression in 2013, splitting time between Greensboro and the High-A of the , where he batted .284 in 104 games while beginning to shift toward a role. By 2014, he had settled in as the primary for the Double-A Jacksonville Suns of the Southern League, batting .250 in 85 games with improved defensive metrics behind the plate, including better blocking and throwing accuracy; he also demonstrated uncommon speed for the position by stealing 15 bases in 18 attempts across levels that season. In November 2014, the Marlins added Barnes to their 40-man roster to protect him from the . On December 10, 2014, Barnes was traded to the along with pitcher , reliever Chris Hatcher, and infielder Enrique Hernández in exchange for second baseman Dee Gordon, pitcher , infielder Miguel Rojas, and cash considerations.

Los Angeles Dodgers

Austin Barnes made his debut with the on May 24, 2015, starting at against the San Diego Padres and recording his first career hit, a single to center field, in three at-bats during the game. Acquired from the organization earlier that year, Barnes quickly established himself as a reliable backup , primarily behind from 2015 to 2018 and later behind starting in 2019, while also providing occasional versatility at second base. His defensive acumen and game preparation were consistently valued, contributing to his longevity in a depth role despite limited everyday playing time. Barnes experienced a breakout campaign in 2017, batting .269 with 8 s and 43 RBIs over 114 games, setting career highs with 89 hits and 6 stolen bases while posting a .354 . That season highlighted his offensive potential as a reserve, including strong contributions in the (NLCS) where he hit .500 (4-for-8) and started multiple games behind the plate during the Dodgers' run. He remained a key postseason performer in subsequent years, notably in 2020 when he batted .250 (10-for-40) with 1 and 4 RBIs across 14 playoff games, including a sacrifice bunt and in the —becoming only the second player in history to achieve both in a single Fall Classic contest—as part of the Dodgers' championship team. Barnes also earned a ring with the 2024 -winning Dodgers, appearing in 54 regular-season games that year with a .264 , 1 , and 11 RBIs, though his postseason role was limited to one defensive substitution in the NLCS. In 2025, Barnes appeared in 13 games for the Dodgers, hitting .214 with no home runs and 2 RBIs before being on May 14 and released on May 20 to make room for prospect Dalton Rushing. Over his full tenure with the Dodgers from 2015 to 2025, spanning 11 seasons, Barnes played in 612 Major League games, compiling a .223 , 35 home runs, 162 RBIs, and 23 stolen bases, while earning praise for his defensive reliability in high-leverage situations and positive influence in the clubhouse as a veteran leader. Notable moments included a walk-off fielder's choice grounder on June 14, 2018, against the Texas Rangers that scored Kiké Hernández for a 3-2 victory, and standout defensive plays such as a collision at home plate during the that helped preserve a key inning.

San Francisco Giants

On June 27, 2025, Austin Barnes signed a minor league contract with the San Francisco Giants and was assigned to their affiliate as a depth to provide organizational support amid injuries to primary backstops, including starter Patrick Bailey's placement on the in June and Tom Murphy's season-long absence due to a spinal injury. He was promoted to Triple-A on July 8, where his experience from 11 seasons with the rival positioned him to offer leadership and mentorship to the Giants' catching prospects and younger pitchers in the system. During his brief stint, Barnes appeared in 13 games across the and Triple-A levels, batting .214 with 9 hits in 42 at-bats, no home runs, and 2 RBIs, while focusing on skill maintenance and preparing for potential future opportunities, including international play. He received no major league call-up in 2025 despite the Giants cycling through multiple backup catchers like , Logan Porter, and . The Giants released Barnes from the Sacramento roster on August 4, 2025, making him a and concluding his short association with the organization. As of November 2025, Barnes remains a .

International career

Mexico national team

Austin Barnes is eligible to represent through his maternal Mexican ancestry, with his mother born and raised in Guadalajara and his father a Mexican American from East . He received his first call-up to the national team in 2023 for the (WBC). In the 2023 WBC, Barnes joined the roster as a backup catcher behind primary starter Alejandro Kirk. He appeared in all six of Mexico's games, primarily providing defensive support and veteran leadership to the pitching staff. At the plate, Barnes batted .200 (4-for-20) with six runs scored, one walk, two stolen bases, and no RBIs, while posting a .273 on-base percentage and .473 OPS. His contributions helped Mexico secure third place overall, advancing through Pool C with a 3-1 record including wins over Great Britain (2-1), Canada (10-3), and the United States (11-5), a loss to Colombia (4-5), before defeating Puerto Rico (5-4) in the quarterfinals and falling to Japan (6-5) in the semifinals. Key moments included his performance in pool play against the , where he went 1-for-4 with a run scored, a walk, and one , earning praise from pitcher for his game-calling that aided 's upset victory. Against , Barnes recorded two hits in a 5-4 loss, contributing offensively in a tight contest. Post-tournament, Barnes voiced enthusiasm for future WBC participation, stating his cultural ties made representing a meaningful honor. Barnes' international career with has been limited to the 2023 WBC as of November 2025, totaling six appearances. He remains a candidate for the 2026 WBC roster, with scouts noting his experience as a valuable asset for the team. His selection highlights the role of Mexican-American players in bridging U.S. and Mexican baseball communities, particularly as one of two on the 2023 squad alongside .

Personal life

Family

Austin Barnes married Nicole Barnes (née Rappaport) in 2018. The couple welcomed their son, Royce Barnes, in February 2021. The Barnes family relocated from the area to in 2015 following Barnes' trade to the Dodgers, establishing roots in where they have resided for much of his professional career. In post-World Series interviews after the 2024 championship, he highlighted his family as a core motivation, describing the joy of sharing victories with them after missing the 2020 parade due to restrictions. Barnes' Mexican heritage, inherited from his mother, subtly influences family traditions, such as incorporating elements of cultural celebrations into their household routines.

Community involvement

Austin Barnes has been a dedicated participant in the Foundation's initiatives from 2015 to 2025, focusing on youth development programs in . He regularly joined annual youth clinics, where he instructed underprivileged children on catching fundamentals and skills, fostering access to the sport for underserved communities. These efforts extended to fundraising activities tied to the Dodgers' 2020 and 2024 victories, which supported local charities through community celebrations and donations. His family occasionally joined him in these events, amplifying the personal impact of his work.

References

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